Chocolate pretzel clusters are bite-sized treats that combine creamy milk chocolate with crunchy salted pretzels. They're a fantastic salty & sweet treat that comes together in less than 20 minutes!
Chocolate pretzel clusters are the perfect treat to make any time of year. They're prepared in 20 minutes or less and there's no baking involved, so you can whip up a batch anytime.
Crushed salted pretzels are blended into melted milk chocolate for the perfect combination of salty and sweet. The chocolate can either be portioned into mini cupcake liners or spooned into freeform clusters on a baking sheet.
Make chocolate pretzel clusters for your next holiday dessert tray. They're perfect for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Clusters can also be packaged in a decorative tin to give as a gift. If you love chocolate and pretzels, you may want to try my peanut butter pretzel bark next!
Ingredients and substitutions
- Melting wafers - Milk chocolate melting wafers can be substituted with dark chocolate or white chocolate if preferred. Melting wafers are ideal because they've already been tempered and are intended for making candy at home. I don't recommend chocolate chips because they don't melt as easily and have a dull, soft finish when solidified.
- Pretzels - Any small pretzels can be crushed and used in this recipe, like twists, sticks, or snaps. Pretzels could also be substituted with chopped nuts like peanuts, or a crispy cereal like rice krispies.
- Sea salt - For sprinkling on top and balancing with the sweetness of the milk chocolate.
Tips and tricks
Melt wafers in the microwave - Using a microwave can be tricky if you're not watching carefully. Your wafers can easily overheat and become grainy or scorched. To prevent this, microwave your chocolate in 30 second increments. Stir and repeat until melted.
Melt wafers on the stovetop - Place your melting wafers in a metal bowl. Fill a saucepan with about an inch of water and bring to a simmer on the stovetop. Place your bowl on top of the saucepan, ensuring the bottom of the bowl doesn't touch the water. The steam from the simmering water slowly warms the bowl, melting your wafers evenly and safely.
Making freeform clusters? - If you plan to drop your pretzel mixture by tablespoon onto a baking sheet, don't forget the parchment paper. Hardened chocolate can be difficult to remove from a metal pan.
Making mini cluster cups? - If you plan to portion your clusters into a mini cupcake pan, don't forget the paper liners. Just like with a baking sheet, your clusters can be difficult to remove from an unlined mini cupcake pan.
Small clusters are best - Measure one heaping tablespoon of your pretzel mixture for each cluster. Small, two-bite chocolates are easy to grab from a candy tray and aren't too rich or heavy for most people.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, this recipe works to create peanut clusters or any type of nut clusters if you'd prefer. Use an equal amount of chopped nuts as a substitute for the crushed pretzels.
I like to buy Ghirardelli chocolate melting wafers at my local grocer. I've found them at Kroger, Publix, and Walmart. They're consistent and easy to find anytime.
If I plan ahead and shop online, I prefer Merkens. The flavor of their melting wafers is superior and they melt beautifully every time. I've purchased from and recommend Dyane's Sweet Tooth when shopping online. Merckens is also available on Amazon for a hefty markup. You may also find Merkens at a cake supply store local to you.
This recipe will technically work with chocolate chips, but you won't get the same end result. Melting wafers are made to be melted and solidified to make candy confections at home. Chocolate chips are made to hold their shape when heated. Did you ever notice when making chocolate chip cookies that the chocolate chips hold their shape? That's because they're manufactured this way.
Melting wafers are the ideal choice for home candy making. When melted and solidified, your candy has a shiny finish and a candy bar "snap" when broken in half.
Chocolate chips, when melted and solidified, have a dull finish and soft texture. Your candy will likely taste just as good, but will not have that candy bar "snap" or shiny finish.
Pretzel clusters will keep for up to 2 weeks in a tightly sealed container at room temperature.
Recommended
📖 Recipe
Chocolate Pretzel Clusters
Ingredients
- 10 ounces milk chocolate melting wafers
- 1.5 cups crushed pretzels
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
- Either line a mini muffin pan with liners or line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a microwave-safe bowl, add chocolate melting wafers and microwave in 30 second increments, stirring until melted. Alternatively, melt using a double boiler on the stove top.
- Add crushed pretzels to melted chocolate. Stir gently until incorporated.
- Drop by tablespoon into your lined mini muffin pan or onto your parchment lined baking sheet. Sprinkle the tops lightly with sea salt while the chocolate is still wet.
- Transfer pan to the refrigerator or freezer to harden for about 10-15 minutes. Store in a sealed container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.
Equipment Recommendations
Notes
- Clusters will keep at room temperature for about 2 weeks in a tightly sealed container.
- I do not recommend substituting melting wafers with chocolate chips. Candy bark is tempered chocolate that's meant for melting and at-home candy making. Chocolate chips are meant to hold their shape and solidify with a dull, soft texture instead of the candy "snap" you achieve with melting wafers.
- Pretzels can be substituted with chopped nuts like peanuts or walnuts to make nut clusters instead.
Looks delicious. Will be making for Christmas, definitely
Thank you for sharing this amazing recipe. I’ll definitely try it at home.
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